Calais Town Hall

The Town Hall may share its elegant brick-and-stone look with the belfry, but it’s still waiting for its own UNESCO status. And honestly, it deserves a bit more love—especially when you hear what it went through to get built!
When the two towns of Calais and Saint-Pierre-lès-Calais were merged in 1885, it was clear that a brand-new Town Hall was needed to symbolize the union. But “clear” doesn’t mean easy. A design contest was launched in 1887, with nearly 100 entries. The winning design by Parisian architect Paul Wallon was soon abandoned due to its high costs. Years later, in 1901, the city looked to another contestant—Ernest Decroix, who had placed fourth. He partnered with Edmond Douillet, and by 1911 they submitted updated plans. Still, nothing moved quickly. Critics and budget issues held everything back. Then Decroix passed away, and the project was picked up by Louis Debrouwer, an architect from Dunkirk. He added a belfry to the design and introduced a new material: reinforced concrete.
Construction finally began—but once again came to a halt with the outbreak of World War I. The unfinished building even suffered damage during the war. At long last, in 1923, the project was completed, and in 1925, the new Town Hall was officially inaugurated—almost 40 years after the original idea was proposed.
Today, the Town Hall consists of three main parts: the belfry, the central building, and a square tower, all sharing a rich Flemish neo-Renaissance style. Step inside and you’ll find beautiful stained glass windows, Art Deco details, and a grand staircase that leads to the wedding hall—where Charles de Gaulle married Calais native Yvonne Vendroux in 1921. So yes, while the belfry might have the fame, the Town Hall more than holds its own in beauty and story.